Profile: Juan Somavía

"We can set a new standard for humanity by consigning the enslavement
of children in these worst forms of child labour and exploitation
to the scrap heap of history."

-- Juan Somavíain The Progress of Nations 2000

Juan Somavía, Director-General of the
International Labour Organization (ILO), is an attorney with a long
and distinguished career in civil and international affairs. He participated
in restoring democracy in his native land of Chile through his role
as President of the International Commission of the Democratic Coalition
in Chile and as Secretary-General of the South American Peace Commission.
He has also held several high-level positions with the United Nations.

Mr. Somavía was elected Director-General of the ILO, based in
Geneva, in March 1999. At the top of his agenda is finding solutions
to the problems of child labour, workers' rights, poverty, unemployment,
gender discrimination and inadequate social protection.

As the first head of the ILO from the developing world, Mr. Somavía
says, "I recognize my special responsibility to ensure that the development
dimension is integral to all ILO activities . Let us set ourselves
the ambitious task of extending prosperity, rights and benefits to all
working people in the world of the 21st century."

Born on 21 April 1941, Mr. Somavía earned degrees in law and
economics from the Catholic University of Chile and the University of
Paris. As Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations from
1990 to early 1999, he served twice as President of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), in 1993 and 1998. Mr. Somavía
represented Chile in the UN Security Council, in 1996-1997, and he served
twice as President of the Security Council, in April 1996 and October
1997.

In recognition of his contribution to peace and human rights, Mr. Somavía
was awarded the Leonidas Proaño Peace Prize by the Latin American
Human Rights Association. He is also the recipient of the Rene Sand
Award of the International Council on Social Welfare, which honours
outstanding contributions to social development.

On taking office as ILO Director-General, Mr. Somavía pledged
"creativity and modernization" for the organization, whose historic
role -- since its founding in 1919 -- was to bring social and political
stability to industrialized countries.

"We have agreed internationally to promote open societies and open
economies," Mr. Somavía said. "That consensus will not hold if
real benefits for ordinary people and their families are not put into
the equation."

Juan Somavía speaks out on child labour. Click on
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